This is a press release from the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced the promotion of Charles Mims, Warden at Wilcox State Prison (SP), to Warden at Smith SP, effective July 16, 2025. As Warden, Mims will be responsible for overseeing staff members and approximately 1,145 male offenders.
“Charles has worked his way up through the ranks and excelled at each position he has held with the agency,” said Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. ” We are confident that his experience and professionalism will serve him well while he continues to uphold the GDC mission as Warden at Smith SP.”
Mims began his career with the GDC in 2007 as a Correctional Officer at Pulaski SP. In 2011, he joined the Cobra Squad at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (GDCP). In 2012, Mims was promoted to Sergeant at Pulaski SP, where he was the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) Sergeant. In 2015, he was promoted to Lieutenant at Telfair SP, where he was the Assistant Tactical Squad Commander. Mims was promoted to Captain at Dodge SP in 2017, and in 2018 he was promoted to Medical Unit Manager. In 2019, he was promoted to Deputy Warden of Security at Valdosta State Prison, and in 2021, he was reassigned to Central SP. In 2022, he was promoted to Special Assistant to the Warden at Wilcox SP, and in 2023, he was promoted to Warden at Wilcox SP, where he currently serves.
Mims has completed the following departmental training: Basic Correctional Officer Training, Basic Management Training, Advanced Management Training, Sergeant’s Academy, Supervision I, II, and III, Management I, II and III, Chief of Security Training, Deputy Warden’s Academy, Warden’s Pre-Command, and the Professional Management Program through Columbus State University.
Jacob Beasley, who has been the Warden at Smith SP since February 2023 has been to Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson, GA. Under Beasley’s leadership at Smith, the prison suffered the killing of a corrections officer by an inmate, a murder-suicide facilitated by a firearm that had been inside the prison for a year, and a dozen staff arrests, among other things.
Read other stories on Smith State Prison here.
